Belal Muhammad has talked about two doubtless first-title challengers to his Welterweight throne.
Final Combating Championship’s (UFC) 170-pound titleholder has two very several types of contenders circulating within the combine to struggle him subsequent. On one hand, there’s the undefeated 18-0 rising star, Shavkat Rakhmonov. On the opposite, there’s the previous champion, Kamaru Usman, who Muhammad has bantered forwards and backwards with since he gained the title at UFC 304 final month (July 27, 2024).
On a floor degree, this appears like a no brainer selection for the promotion to go along with as Usman is at present on a three-fight dropping streak that dates again to August 2022. When assessing the present panorama, former Bellator and ONE Championship champion, Ben Askren, believes it’s apparent why Muhammad has any curiosity in any respect within the “Nigerian Nightmare.”
“Usman has an enormous title, he’s a former champion, one of many longest-reigning former champions. It’s him, Tyron [Woodley], and Georges [St-Pierre] are the three longer reigning Welterweight champions,” Askren informed Daniel Cormier. “Leon [Edwards] is gonna must win just a few extra to get in that class, so one of many ways in which Belal can see it’s: This can be a man who has an enormous title, who held the belt for some time and now he’s over the hill so he could possibly be a better opponent for me.
“Perhaps doubtlessly he’s that struggle vs. a Shavkat, he’s gonna be well-known however he’s not large but,” he continued. “Or [Jack] Della Maddalena is however he’s not large but, proper? I’d say he’s (Usman) doubtless over the hill.”
Ought to Muhammad draw Usman as his first title challenger, the bout can be Usman’s first and sure solely in 2024. Usman final fought when he made his Middleweight debut towards Khamzat Chimaev at UFC 294 in October 2023.